The Husbandmans Companion, Meditation 75
Upon a great tree ſpringing from a ſmall kernel.
75. Med.
WHen I beheld ſome great fruit-trees, grown to a large ſtature, the perſons being yet alive that ſet them, of ſmall kernels, and that not, very many years ago, and yet are come to be trees of very great bulk and bigneſs, the conſideration whereof made me to contemplate the mighty power of God, that from ſuch contemptible beginings could produce ſo large a body; and that of the ſmall ſeeds of the cypreſs tree, ſuch a huge bulk ſhould ſo ſoon proceed, and that a ſlender akorn ſhould bring forth ſo vaſt a tree as ſome oaks are, carrying ſo many tun of timber, and load of wood, as ſome do, this brought to my minde the parable of the muſtard ſeed, Mat. 13.31. where Chriſt tells us, though it be the leaſt of ſeeds, that it grows up to a great tree, and that ſuddenly, that the fowls of of heaven lodge in the branches of it; for though in our northern climats, it arrive not to that bigneſs, yet travellers ſpeak much of the greatneſs of it in thoſe hotter Countreys; our Saviour Chriſts intention in this parable is to teach us, that as from this ſmall ſeed proceeds a great tree, ſo is alſo the progreſs of the Goſpel, which though at firſt it ſeems contemptible, yet it proves very efficatious, it is quick and powerful; and wonderfull in operation, whither the fowls of heaven, the elect reſort, in proſperity for ſhadow, in adverſity for defence: In the promulgation of the Goſpel, from ſmall beginnings a few poor unlearned fiſhermen, the Goſpel was carryed as on eagles wings to the end of the earth, and in a ſhort time ſubdued potent princes, that ſet themſelves againſt it, to the admiration of all, thoſe angels came flying with the everlaſting goſpel; and in the reformation, how ſtrangely was it carryed on: Wickliff, John Hus. and Jerome of Prague, theſe paved a way and opened a door to Luther, who with a few more, withſtood the whole popiſh intereſt, and ſo prevailed againſt them, that thoſe locuſts that came out of the bottomleſs pit, were never able by their ſmoak to darken the light of the Goſpel again, but it brake forth more and more to the perfect day, even to all mens admiration: in many places it was carryed on againſt their princes conſent, yea, contrary to his will; in Holland, France, Germany, Scotland, and many more, ſo wonderfully did this little grain ſpread; and in this Nation by what unexpected means was the Reformation carryed on, by a prince which writ againſt it, and ſet himſelf againſt it; and yet was inſtrumental in Gods hand to carry on the work: God can make uſe of whom he pleaſeth to do his work: Heathen Cyrus muſt be his ſervant to carry on his deſigne: in Athanaſius his time, how did God vindicate his truth by ſmall means againſt a world of Arians, and made him victorious againſt them all, the word of God is powerfull, as a two edged ſword, to divide between the joints and the marrow, Heb. 4.12. By the growth of this muſtard-ſeed, is ſignifyed, not only the ſpreading abroad of the Goſpel in the firſt promulgation of it, but alſo of the growth of grace in a Chriſtians heart, which though it have a ſmall beginning, yet it encreaſeth wonderfully, Job. 8.7. the later end doth greatly encreaſe; when the new creature grace is formed in the ſoul by the finger of God, it groweth like the childe in the womb, at the firſt it is an Embrio, imperfect, and unſhaped, but is perfected by the degrees, the heart, the brain, the liver, and vital parts, and in proceſs of time, the bones, ſinews, arteryes, nerves, and other parts, covered with fleſh, and skin, till it come to perfection, and when it is born an infant, it grows up to maturity, till it comes to a perfect man; when God ſpeaks a word ſecretly and ſuddenly to the heart, it ſticks cloſe, and never leaves till the work be done, and the new creature grace be formed, it makes a wonderful change in the man; it is like Elijahs mantle when thrown upon Eliſha, which made him leave his oxen and run after him, and deſired only to kiſs his father and mother, and he would follow him: the prophet ſaid, go back again, what have I done to thee? 1 Kin. 19.19. but he had done that which made him, that he would not forſake him, till he was taken up to heaven, and remained a prophet to his dying day; when God ſpeaks home to the heart, the work is done, when Chriſt cals Peter and Andrew, James and John, they leave all to follow him, Mat. 4.18. &c. with his word there went forth a ſecret power, inclining them to follow; the woman of Samaria left her pitcher, and Mathew his tole-book, and Zacheus his Sicamore tree, yea, half of his goods at Chriſts call, when God ſpeaks to the heart, it ſticks cloſe, and never leaves till a through reformation be wrought, it turns a man from a lion to a lamb, and changes a perſecuting Saul to a preaching Paul: The ſmoaking flax ſhall not be quench't, nor the bruiſed reed ſhall not be broken, till he bring forth judgment into victory; Mat. 12.20. it is not the ſtrong oaks only but the bruiſed reeds Chriſt cheriſheth; he deſpiſeth not the day of ſmall things; the leſt ſpark of fire may be cheriſhed into a flame, and the leaſt true grace will be growing, the very pantings after Chriſt, and unſatisfaction without him, are highly accounted of by him; the earthquake made ſuch an heartquake in the Jaylor, that he crys out, what ſhall I do to be ſaved? and the preaching of Peter to thoſe that put Chriſt to death, reacht to their heart, and nothing would ſerve till they knew how they ſhould be ſaved: ſo powerfull is the word when ſet on by God upon the heart: oh my ſoul, though the Church of God be brought low, deſpair not yet, it hath been ſo in former times, yet recovered, and Chriſt hath told thee, the gates of hell ſhall never prevail againſt it: God will yet ſay to theſe dry bones, live; and if thy graces be at an under, deſpair not, if it be true, though but as a grain of muſtard ſeed, it will ſpring; if thou art but ſmoaking flax thou ſhalt not be quenched; if a bruiſed ſeed, thou ſhalt not be broken; oh my God, blow upon that ſpark thou haſt given me, that it be not extinguiſhed, remove the aſhes of corruption that it may appear.